In the last five years, Mintel estimates that the plus-size market for womenswear (sizes 18+) has increased by 45% to £3.8 billion in 2010. Compared to growth in the overall womenswear market of 15%, this is a very strong performance and shows the increasing importance of plus-sizes to the overall clothing market. Larger-size menswear has grown steadily by 6% to £1.9 billion between 2005 and 2010.

While older people are more likely to wear plus size clothing, a growing number of women aged 35-44 also buy plus sizes and more than a third of men aged under-35 wear XL sizes. Retailers need to start designing more trend-led clothing for this younger age group, with these consumers tending to be more fashion aware than older people.

More than half of plus-size women continue to suffer from a lack of choice to cater for their size, suggesting that retailers have not done enough since the last Mintel report, which found a similar rate of discontent about lack of choice, to provide a greater range of clothes and specific collections for these consumers.

Over four in ten women that wear sizes 18 and over find that clothes in their size tend to be less fashionable than smaller sizes.

One in five women blame their trouble finding clothes to fit on an awkward body shape, with size 14s and 16s suffering most from a different top to bottom size.

Discontent about inconsistencies in clothes sizes between brands and retailers is on the rise and has been fuelled by media coverage of the increased use of vanity sizing by retailers. Retailers need to work in collaboration to regain the confidence of consumers over sizing.

Online retailer ASOS has tapped into the plus-size market with the launch of a new range of trend-led plus-size clothing branded as ASOS Curve. The collection is likely to appeal to younger, more fashion-conscious women who remain unsatisfied with the current offering.

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Table of contents

Issues in the Market

Main themes

Definitions

Abbreviations

Future Opportunities

The virtual tailor

Accurate and convenient

Go robotic

Reality Check

Social networking/horizontal communities

Market in Brief

Women’s plus-size market outperforms

Larger menswear shows steady growth

What has been driving growth?

Non-specialists move too slowly

Specialists continue to suffer

Discontent over inconsistent sizes grows

Women struggle to buy clothes that fit

Plus-sizes suffer from lack of choice

Four main target groups

What will happen to the market

Who will do well?

Who will underperform?

Where are the opportunities?

Internal Market Environment

Key points

Britons becoming bigger

Figure 1: Percentage of adult population, in England with BMI of over 30, by age group, 1999, 2003, 2008

Figure 2: Percentage of overweight and obese adults, in England by BMI, 2003-08

Childhood obesity on the rise

Figure 3: Children’s overwieght and obesity prevalence, 2003-08

Two in five women trying to lose weight

Larger sizes put comfort over style

Plus-sizes spend less on clothes

Figure 4: Agreement with statements on personal appearance, 2009

Figure 5: Agreement with statements on personal appearance, 2009

Broader Market Environment

Key points

Ageing population to boost market

Figure 6: Trends in the age structure of the UK population, 2005-15

Socio-economic changes

Figure 7: Trends in the socio-economic structure of the UK adult population, 2005-15